- November 29, 2025
- 11:18 pm
- Israel
In the evening of November 28, 2025, an unusual guest landed at Ben Gurion Airport — a heavy Ukrainian transport aircraft An-124-100 “Ruslan”, one of the largest cargo planes in the world. It appeared suddenly, without the usual public route data, quickly took on board some cargo — and almost immediately flew away.
According to eyewitnesses, American military trucks and equipment were loaded onto the plane, and the loading took unusually little time. A video of this moment spread on social networks, sparking a wave of discussions: why did the Ukrainian transporter arrive in Israel, what did it bring, and what did it take back?
The route also raises questions: the plane arrived from the United Arab Emirates, after loading flew to Tbilisi, and then — back to the Persian Gulf region, making a significant detour and remaining partially hidden from international flight trackers. There are no official comments from Israel, Ukraine, or the USA.
What is An-124-100 “Ruslan” — a unique Ukrainian giant
An-124 is the pride of Ukraine, one of the most powerful transporters in aviation history, created by the Kyiv-based Antonov Design Bureau. Until the destruction of the An-225 “Mriya” in 2022, “Ruslan” held the second place in the world for cargo capacity.
Main characteristics of An-124-100 “Ruslan”
- Cargo capacity: up to 120 tons
- Length: 69 meters
- Wingspan: 73 meters
- Maximum speed: 800 km/h
- Range: up to 15,000 km without cargo / 4,500 km with a load of 120 tons
- Crew: 6–7 people
This aircraft is capable of transporting:
- tanks and armored vehicles,
- helicopters,
- missile systems,
- generators and industrial equipment,
- humanitarian and military cargo of oversized dimensions.
Where the “Ruslans” are now and who operates them
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, part of Antonov’s parking in Ukraine was destroyed. However, several An-124s that were on foreign missions survived — these are the ones currently providing international flights.
Today An-124s are operated by:
🇺🇦 Antonov Airlines (Ukraine)
The main operator of the surviving Ukrainian fleet. Since 2022, the base has been moved mainly to Leipzig (Germany) and other European airports — this ensures safety and access to maintenance.
🌍 Foreign operators (commercial)
A small number of “Ruslans” are used by cargo companies that have been operating since the Soviet era.
Currently, about 10–12 aircraft are actively flying, the rest are destroyed or require repair.
How the “Ruslans” and “Mriya” were destroyed in Hostomel
Hostomel Airport, the main base of Antonov, became one of the first targets of the Russian invasion. Capturing the airfield was supposed to open the way for the transfer of troops and equipment to the approaches to Kyiv. The battles for Hostomel were among the fiercest in the early days of the war, and it was during these battles that the unique Ukrainian aircraft An-124 and An-225 were destroyed.
February 24, 2022 — the first strike and the beginning of the assault
On the morning of February 24, Russian troops began a full-scale invasion, and one of the key directions of the attack was Hostomel airfield. More than 30 Russian helicopters, including Mi-8, Ka-52, and Mi-24, headed towards it. Ukrainian forces — the National Guard, special forces, and KORD — engaged in battle right on the airport territory.
At this moment, the entire Antonov aircraft fleet in Hostomel was on the ground: some in hangars, some on parking lots.
How the An-225 “Mriya” was destroyed
The An-225 was in a large hangar undergoing maintenance. During the battles, Russian forces used artillery, rocket systems, and mortars. One of the shells pierced the hangar roof. A fire started inside. The roof structure collapsed, crushing the aircraft.
“Mriya” was completely destroyed: the wing, nose section, cockpit, engines, and central fuselage section were damaged. Experts later confirmed that the aircraft was beyond repair.
The position of An-124 during the assault
On February 24, 2 “Ruslans” were in Hostomel:
- one An-124 was in a hangar for scheduled repairs;
- one aircraft was on an open parking lot;
- the rest were on international flights and outside Ukraine.
How the An-124 “Ruslan” was destroyed
An-124 on the open parking lot
The parking lots were fired upon by aviation and ground means. Several hits were in the area of the wing and fuselage of one of the An-124s – UR-82009. A fire broke out in the fuel system and landing gear area. The aircraft was completely burned out and destroyed.
An-124 in the hangar
Another “Ruslan” UR-82073 was in the hangar for maintenance, partially disassembled. As a result of shelling, the hangar was damaged, part of the structure collapsed on the aircraft.
- It did not receive damage from shelling because the hangar protected it.
- In 2025, it underwent modernization and flew from Kyiv to Leipzig, returning to service.
Why the aircraft were not evacuated
A common question is why the crews did not take the aircraft into the air. Evacuation was impossible for several reasons:
- The attack began suddenly and in the first minutes of the invasion.
- The helicopter landing landed on the airfield faster than the crews could reach the aircraft.
- An-124 and An-225 require lengthy preparation for takeoff: engine start, system check, runway clearance.
- Shootouts and shelling were conducted right on the runway, completely excluding any attempt to take off.
Fighting after February 24
The battles for Hostomel continued for several days. The airport changed hands several times, the territory was subjected to repeated airstrikes, artillery shelling, and arson. This completely destroyed the remaining aircraft and infrastructure.
Which An-124s survived
Only those 7 “Ruslans” (+ 1 later restored) that were on foreign flights or stationed at partner countries’ bases at the time of the invasion survived. These aircraft were subsequently relocated to Europe — primarily to Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany — and continue to perform international missions.
Why the visit of “Ruslan” to Israel attracted such interest
- It is a rare aircraft, with only a few in the world.
- It is used for classified military transports by NATO, the USA, and Ukraine.
- The flight route was partially hidden, which usually indicates a sensitive mission.
- The loading of military equipment in Israel is an unusual event in itself.
- The flight through Georgia and the lack of comments add intrigue.
This flight left more questions than answers. But one thing is clear: Ukrainian “Ruslans” continue to participate in international operations and remain an important part of global logistics, despite the war and the lost fleet in Hostomel.
The significance of these “Ruslans” for the country, its partners, and international logistics is hard to overestimate, and that is why the editorial team of “NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency” constantly monitors their missions and events around Antonov aviation, including the recent mysterious An-124 flight to Israel.
